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Designed as an inexpensive alternative to the multi-channel record facility available from a Sky Plus box, the Phantom PVR consists of a special Scart adapter that is attached via a lead to a small transceiver unit. After removing the Scart lead supplied by Sky as part of its kit, the Phantom Scart adapter, with its piggy-back or throughput approach, slots into the vacant Scart connection of your digibox. You can then re-attach the original Scart lead into the back of the Phantom supplied unit (a similar method was used to attach a combination of a printer and scanner before USB became the preferred option). The transceiver, which has a magnetic base, can be positioned on the side of the digibox.

Reviews : Video Recorder

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Of course there is a little bit more to the technology than just attaching the Phantom PVR. Programmes that you wish to record have to be selected via the digibox's Personal Planner function with the Autoview feature turned on. The Scart adapter will then pick up signals from the Personal Planner advising when a programme due for recording is about to start. Appropriate instructions are then passed to the transceiver unit which sends out its own infrared signals in the form of VCR acceptable commands. Lo and behold your VCR responses and records the chosen programme for you. At the end of the programme the video recorder is turned off and the whole process can start again with another programme on a different channel.

As individual makes of video recorder require their own sequence of commands in order to function, the Phantom PVR does need to be programmed as to the actions that need to be activated. This is achieved by pointing your VCR's remote control at the transceiver and, in conjunction with pressing two buttons on the top of the unit, carrying out the commands required for the Standby, Record, Stop and Timer functions. As each step of the training is accepted by the transceiver, it will flash an acknowledgement to indicate it is ready to proceed. I found this process a little bit fiddly but fortunately it only needs to be carried out once unless, of course, you change your video recorder for a different model.

While not as full-featured as or even a replacement for the Sky Plus box, the Phantom PVR does carry out its prime function with the minimum of fuss. Just make sure you insert a blank tape into your video recorder and the Phantom's cost of £29.99 will be well worth the expense.

http://www.phantompvr.com/